Go to any McDonald’s in the world, and the taste of their Coke is fairly consistent. It’s a favorite among fast foodies who are quick to compare it to other restaurant brands. It’s good.

Ever wonder how Mickey D’s is able to achieve that Coca-Cola bottle taste without serving you an actual bottle? To Coke aficionados, it is incomparable to other restaurants. There are several factors that make a McDonald’s Coke a big deal, and once you learn why, you may wind up being impressed with the chain.

Firstly, the syrup McDonald’s uses is transported and stored in stainless steel containers. Thanks to a tight relationship between Coca-Cola and the chain, this is the go-to method and happens to be what works best in preserving that classic flavor you love.

In contrast, syrup bagged in plastic is almost the standard for other fast food eateries. That can affect the shelf life and taste of your favorite cola.

Once the containers reach their restaurant destinations, they are stored at a chilly temperature to ensure quality. This goes hand-in-hand with another element of the soda-making process: filtered water. McDonald’s uses pre-chilled, specially filtered water that is used exclusively for mixing up batches of Coke.

Along with that, the tubes that connect the refrigerated liquid (kept just above freezing) source to the soda dispenser are insulated to maintain the cold temperature that Coca-Cola drinkers love. Those run from the back to the front and drive-thru sections of the restaurants.

And, according to the McDonald’s website, this step also prevents the watery combo of soda and melted ice:

“The water and Coca-Cola syrup are pre-chilled before entering our fountain dispensers with the ratio of syrup set to allow for ice to melt.”

Here’s where the fancy soda science comes in. Because the temperatures are kept so cold, CO2 levels – which keep the fizziness just right – are kept up at optimal amounts. That means your soda will stay nice and bubbly and won’t go flat.

McDonald’s has also credited the wide design of their straws which they say allow the soda’s flavor to hit more of your taste buds. We are not sure if this is still the case with their transition away from plastic, but who knows?

In spite of all these steps, McDonald’s still wants customers to know that there is no special formula. A spokesperson told the NY Post:

“Despite the speculation, there is no secret formula to our recipe. We’re delighted to hear that our customers enjoy drinking our Coca-Cola.”

If you have been wondering why you or someone you love is so addicted to McDonald’s Coca-Cola, now you know the reason. Highly calculated efforts are made to make sure it tastes better than their competitors and to keep you coming back.

Although this information is public, it remains to be seen if we’ll ever find out the secret to their beloved French fries. Fries and a Coke, anyone?

Did you know so many steps were involved in making McDonald’s Coke? Do you love it or hate it? Who do you think has the best soda out of the major fast food joints?